Broom-protector.



H. (I. KOEHLER BROOM PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30. Ian.

LZQ'LGQF, Patented Dec.10, 1918. I

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HERMAN C. KOEHLER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

BROOM PROTECTOR.

Application filed March 30, 1917.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HERMAN C. KonHLnn, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Broom- Protectors; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to iHLPIOVOHloDtS in attachments for brooms, one object being to provide simple and efficient means for protecting the head of an ordinary broom.

It is a matter of common knowledge that the straws which compose the heads of ordinary brooms frequently become broken or otherwise damaged when said brooms are in use. This is especially true when the edge of the broom strikes an obstacle, some of the straws being frequently held by the latter and broken off when the broom is moved away from the same. One reason for this damage to the straws lies in the fact that inadequate means is usually provided for retaining them within certain limits.

My invention is adapted to confine the straws of any ordinary broom head to prevent their injury.

An additional object is to provide an at- .1 tachment for broom heads by which the stiffness of the broom maybe varied.

A still further object is to provide means whereby a dust cloth may be secured to the usual broom head.

WVith the foregoing objects and advantages in view the invention resides in the novel features of construction which will be hereinafter more particularly pointed out and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a protector constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a broom head having my invention applied; and

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the man ner in which a dust cloth may be held to the broom head by the invention.

In the preferred embodiment of my device as shown in the drawing, wherein similar reference characters denote like parts, it will be noted that the same consists broadly of a pair of clamping frames adapted to be disposed one on each side of a head H of a broom B, the several parts of the frames specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 10, 1918.-

Serial No. 158,506.

serving to readily confine the straws S which compose the head.

More specifically the device consists of a pair of end 'members 1, each formed of spring wire bent upon itself as at 2. Each of the end members 1 thus is composed of a pair of arms 3 which, if permitted to do so, would be moved to a substantially parallel relation as a result of the spring tension exerted by the bend 2.

However, the arms 3 of each member are crossed intermediate their ends as at 4, and the free ends of the corresponding arms of each member are connected by cross-bars 5 also formed of wires of an appropriate diameter. This construction in effect produces a pair of substantially U-shaped mem' bers, each of which consists of a pair of arms 3 and a crossbar 5, the adjacent arms being connected at 2. All of these members are preferably formed from a single spring metal wire bent into the desired shapes, the opposite ends of the wire being brought together and loosely connected, they being provided with eyes '6 which are disposed one within the other to hold the said ends together. The arms 3 of one U-shaped member are both disposed inwardly of the arms of the other U-shaped member, one of the inner arms being the arm on which one eye 6 is formed, whereby said inner arms may be moved toward each other slightly owing to the loose connection of said eyes.

Each of the arms 3 has its portion adjacent the bend 2 bent inwardly toward the corresponding arm of the other member whereby to form ears 7. Each of these portions is preferably constructed by bending each arm inwardly toward the other corresponding arm at right-angles as shown at 8 and then continuing it downwardly as at 9 until it merges into the bend 2. The ears 7 thus formed on each end member are preferably spaced apart a distance substantially equal the thickness of the broom head and are adapted to receive said broom head therebetween as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The cross-bars 5 area length substantially equal the width of the broom head, but the portions of the device adjacent the bend 2 may be moved inwardly or outwardly with respect to each other so that the broom head may be gripped more or less tightly. To move these parts of the end members toward each other a helical contracting spring 10 is provided, the opposite ends having eyes 11 to be disposed in a pair of corresponding ears 7.

In applying the protector to a broom head, the cross-bars 5 are forced apart a sufi icient distance t6 permitthe head H to move therebetween, said cross-bars being spaced a suitable distance from the free ends of the straws S, while the ears 7 are disposed on the opposite sides of the broom head adjacent its connection with its handle. From the figures of the drawing it will be noted that the crossbar ofone of the U-shaped members above mentioned is disposed on one side of the broom head, and the ears of said member are located in engagement with the other side of the head so that the arms of such member extend diagonally across the edges of the broom. As the result of the loose connection formed by the eyes 6 and the engagement of the spring 10 with the ears 7 of the inner arms 3, it will be seen that said inner arms 3 will be moved toward each other throughout their length. Thus the broom head will be gripped at spaced points on opposite sides, that is to say the outer portion of the head on one side will be gripped by the outer ends of the inner arms 3, while the other side of the head adjacent its innerend will be gripped by the portions of the inner arms 3 adjacent the ears 7.

By placing the cross-bars 5 adjacent the free end of the straws S it will be obvious that a broom head of considerable stiflness will have been produced, but on the other hand if such bars are spaced a considerable distance from the ends of the straws the head will be much more flexible. These cross-bars are further used for retaining a dust cloth C upon the end of the head H, said cloth being wrapped about the head in any preferred manner so that the bars may grip the same as in Fig. 3. It is evident that an extremely simply constructed combination protector and dust cloth holder has been produced which will eifectively confine the straws of a broom head to prevent their becoming broken off or otherwise injuredand thus prolonging the life of a broom.

I claim:

A device of the class described comprising a pair of end members formed of spring wire bent upon itself, the arms of each member being crossed under tension, the inner arm of one member having an eye formed at its free end, a connecting wire united with the free end of the inner arm. of the other end member and having an eye on its free end loosely connected with the first mentioned eye whereby said inner arms may move inwardly toward each other slightly, a second connecting wire united with the free ends of the outer arms of the end members, each of the arm of one end member adjacent the bend thereof being bent inwardly toward its corresponding arm of the other end member to provide V-shaped ears, the same forming spring receiving seats, the

ears of each end member being adapted to straddle one edge of the broom, said connecting wires also being disposed on opposite sides of the broom, and a contracting coil spring'having its opposite ends connected with the ears formed in said inner arms whereby to draw the said arms together throughout their length to evenly confine the broom.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee. in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin.

HERMAN C. KOEHLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. 0. 

